Pulp-handling device



. April 22', 1924.

v 1,491,1l1 C. SPEARMAN n PULP HANDLING DEvcE Filed June 25 1919 2 shee'ts-sneer 1 April 2 2 1924.`

L c. SPEARMAN PULP HANDLING DEVICE Filed June 25 1919 2 Sheets-Sheesh 2 i' l "Imm" Mil' Patented pi', 22', i924.

tanni CHARLES SPEARMAN, OF WESTMQUNT, QUEBEC, CANADA.

EULP-HANDLNG DEVCE.

' Application led .lune 25, 1919. Serial No. 396,565.

This invention relates to an apparatus for the separation and extraction of minerals from their ores and the purification of conycentrates.

t has application particularly to an apparatus for use in extracting, separating, and concentrating operations wherein the ore istreatcd in such 'fashion that the values and the gangue material are dissimiliarly modified, as by supplying the values with a film ol material which is immiscible or nonassimilating with the material utilized to modify the'gangue, and then producing a stratification in the pulp, the constituent portions of which are thus diiferentiated, and an. agglomeration of the values, and finally a separation of the values from the gangue material.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a form of pulp handling device which may be utilized in a variety oit operations 'for the purpose of enliven-ing the pulp, agglomerating the desired constituents, producing stratication between the select and the reject constituents, launching the pulp upon a suitable dotation body for surface tension separation, or eifec'ting an actual separation of the stratified constituents.

@ne of the objects of my invention is to provide an improved pulp handling' device wherein the pulp may be treated for the purpose of aerating or enliveningr it and wherein the application of the aerating or enlivening fluid contributes to the progres sive movement of the pulp over the device, thereby increasing the capacity ofthe device, and the speed of the separating or launch ing process.

Another object of my invention comprises the provision of a pulpl handling device which produces an enlivening and stratication ot' dilierentiated constituents ot the pulp both by the filtration of air or other fluid through the pulp, and by a mechanical \maixipulation of the pulp occasioned by its movement over thel device.

VJanother object of my invention is to provide a pulp handling apparatus wherein the separation of the ugglomeratedvalues is en pcditcd 'ny mechanical incans which are rendered effective by the movement of the pulp over the device.

A further object of my invention is to provide a form ot' pulp handling,r device which has increased 'wearing qualities and a .erm of utility `considerahly greater than those of devices employed in present practice.

Other and 'further objects of my invention will be obvious from the following descrip-` tionY and claims, yor pointed out therein, reference being;` had to the accompanying drawings 'torminpr a part of my application and showing, for the purpose ot illustration merely, one ot the variety ot forms in which the invention may be embodied.

ln a copending' application, Serial Number 281,017, filed March 6, l9l9, l have disclosed and claimed a method for the separation and concentration of ores which is characterized by the fixation of a certain amount of water moisture in the ore, and a subsequent mixing.,Y of the ore With water and a non-assimilatiiig agglomerating agenty in the nature of anoil, in such fashion that the select value content of the ore is supplied with a iilm of material which is nonassimilating with a suitable flotation body, preferably water. This process ot thus dif- :terentiating,- the values from the reject con tent ot the orc may be accomplished concomitantly with the reduction ot the ore to a freely fiowing pulp, which operations may be effected in a suitable hall mill or in a mixer, and from such device the pulp is discharged on to a suit-able launder and over a distributor.

ln the further treatment of the pulp for the purpose of separation and concentration oi" th'e ,values, it is contemplated that the pulp 'will he subjected to an enlivening and stratifyinp; operation on'a suitable device whereon it. is treated by the injection ot air or other fiuid which works it and assists in freeing the values from the other content. My present invention is directed particularlv to an apparatus employed at this point in the separation process.

The apparatus constituting my present invention is in the form oi a launcher or pulp handling' deviceI havingr a pulp supporting side or surface over which the pulp is passed or tlowe l. For reasons hereinafter to he pointed out l torni this surface in the in the progressive movementor flow of the pulp over the apparatus.

In conjunction with this form and arrangement of stepped launching and segregating surface may be utilized a series of gratings or apertured devices over and throughwhich the pulp passes in its movement from one stage to the next. These grating or straining devices are arranged in such fashion as to atlord easy passage through them of the .more fluid constitutents 'of the pulp, While the more coherent or agglomerated portion, which comprises the desired values, is caught and retained lfor a period, thus effecting an actual physical separation or stratification of the values from the reject constituents of the pulp.

In thc accompanying drawings, Figure l is a partly diagrammatic illustration in the nature of a longitudinal sectional elevation through one form of pulp handling device of my improved construction.

Figure 2 is a fragmentaryY view in the nature ot a fragmentary plan or top view of the device.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 but illustrating an alternative form ofthe device.

Figure 4 is a detail in the nature ot a fragmentary top View of Figure 3 and illustrating an alternative form of separating member.

Referring to t-he drawings by means of the reference characters, let itbe understood. that the numeral 1 designates generally a` scgregating or launching device which may be in the nature ot a hollow structure of sheet metal adjustably supported in operative-association with a suitable flotation body, designated by the numeral 2, a distributor designated by the numeral 5, and other apparatus utilized iu the separation and concentration process.

The launcher or segregating device l may be built up in any suitable fashion' on a frame 6, which is ellective to sustain the sheet metal wall portions 7 and the pulp supporting side or Wall. The hollow structure thus formed is adapted to float en the flotation liquid and is suitable for the reception of fluid, either liquid or gaseous, or both, which may be introduced tllrugb, pipes or inlets 3. The pulp supportingside, which constitutes the upper wall ot the device, is constructed in the torni ot a series of steps or stages. This portion et the device may be formed of suitable metal plates disposed to form intermediate zones 8, and stages 9, as illustrated in exaggerated proportion in Figure l. ltdesire l, the stages may be rendered pervious to liuid by being provided with small apertures 13 which permit the egression of fluid from the interior of the device. Adjacent the upper surface of the several stages 9 the zones 8 are provided with apertures, designated by the numeral l0, which apertures may be formed by spacing the lower margins ot' the plates forming the zones apart from the upper surfaces of the stages. The essential feature of the arrangement is that the disposal ot' the apertures Vl0 be such that the iuid issuing through them from the interior of the device Will be directed across the adjacent.l

stage member toward the next lower stage member.I i

In the operation of the device it is contemplated that pulp of the proper consistency,`uf'hich has been subjected to the differentiating agents as above described, shall be deposited upon an upper or rear stage of the device from a suitable distributor 5, or similar apparatus. Either trom gravity or from the influence ot a fluid stream directed from a conduit ll, the pulp is caused to flow over the stage to its lo'iver limit, and then pass on to the next stage. The llow of the pulp across such next stage is assisted by a fluid stream issuing from the apertures l() at the rear thereof, and the `tlovv of the pulp to the next. lower stage thereby expedited. In this manner the' progressive liow ot the pulp across the pulp supporting side oit the device is grdatly accelerated, so that the capacity of the device is materially in creased. In addition to thus assisting in the progressive movement of the pulp over the device, the moving fluid emitted trom the apertures 10 accomplishes the further purpose ot aerating the pulp, and ot working or cnlivening it by the passage throu'fh it. l

of such fluid. Thishas the eltect. oit freeing the discrete particles ot the desired values from the other material in the pulp, thereby permitting and assisting the values rising to the surtace ot the pulp due to the nature ot their qualifying films, or to other infin.u ences producing stratiiicatien. This process of eulivcuing, freeing, and stratification may be l'urthcr contributed to bv minute fluid d streams emitted through the small anertures in (he stages. During the progre moremcnt of the pulp over the supporting surface, a further Working or enlivening of the pulp accomplished by the undulating of the pulp streannin its passage 'trom one stage tocthefncxt. thusrontributing further to the lrapid'freeing ot the value particles througl'i out 'Lliqentire .massY of the pulp.

As a result ot the etlcct ot this apparatus upon the pulp. the values are freed ver;

idf)

incidir rapidly, and stratiied and agglomerated at the surface of' the pulp stream, such stratr ication and agglomeration oli the values beginning immediately and increasing during the progress or' the pulp over the device. Finally the pulp may be delivered 4trom this device upon a suitable flotation body vhereon the values are separated from the otlier'inaterial in the pulp, and from the surface of which the values may be rccoveredin any elifective manner.

In combination with a segregating and launching device ot' this construction may be employed the Jfurther Jfeature illustrated in Figure 9, for the purpose of expediting the stratification and agglomeration oi thc values in the pulp. This feature or' the iiiiention is :in arrangement in the nature of a grating or foraminous device, which may be of comb-like form, and which is disposed at the :forward or lower limit or margin of eaclistage, so that it overhangs the next lower stage, asfillustrated atl2. The form shown is constructed in the nature of a comb with individually extending tooth or finger members la, tapering toward their outer extremities, so as to provide interspacing slots of gradually increasing Width. The disposal of the upper faces of these members l2 is such as to permit the passageot the pulp over them from their associated stages, and the irregular or serrated margin formed by these members greatlyk increases the length of the discharge edge over which the pul has to pass, resulting in a thinning out o the sheet of pulpto a minimum depth at the discharge ends of the stages. As the progressive movement of the pulp carries it over the members 12, its more duid portion, which will be the portion containing the Water and the Water soaked and Water filmed material, and which will constitute the lower strata in the pulp stream, will flow or fall through the spaces between the members 14.; While the more coherent and less fluid portion of the pulp, which will be the values in their ag glonierated condition forming the upper. stratum of the stream, will be retained or supported by the members 12 Jfor a period of time. This operation upon the pulp, therefore, produces an actual separation of the aggloinerated values from the pulpfwhich will assist in the recovery of the values from the pulp. Furthermore, the passage of the more fluid portion of'the pulp through the members l2 constitutes avworking of the niaterial which contributes to the irccing ot the discrete particles of the values remaining in the mass and to their risingr and strati ication at the surface. The arrangement of the devices 12 is such that their inclination 'may be varied by adjustment of the slope ot In this modilication the pulp supporting wall is formed ot a series ot plates which are laid overlapping one another sei'iatim to provide the stages, with space 'lett between the juxtaposed. plates to provide the aperf tures l0 through which. the tluid may issue iiito tlie`pulp from the interior of the der vice. By this construction et' the derive thc 'number ot' stages may be greatly increased, and the offset between the stages decreased, 'so as te provide an apparatus which is adapted to handle a very shallow stream ot pulp and move it very rapidly. The apcrtured separating member l2 may be toi-ined as 'terminal projections at the margins oi" the plates as illustrated in Figure 3, their Yfunction being as previously described.

As a result both ot the individual etl'ect of the several features above described. as Well as the conjoined edect thereof when coinbined in an apparatus, the speed of the separating process is greatly increased, and the percentage of recovered values is considerably augmented. This results y"iii a distinct decrease in the cost of operation, While the construction ot the launching device in the manner specified permits the use ot sheet metal for the pulp carrying surface, where` by the device is given added durability and an extended term of utility.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim is:

l. In an apparatus tor separating ores, a

Vpulp handling device the combination of a pulp supporting wall arranged in the form of a series of stages, an apertured separat*- ing device arranged in the path ot pulp transmitted on said wall, and a flotation 'body disposed to receive pulp discharged the combination ot a pulp handling device comprising a wall adapted to support and transmit a flowing stream of pulp, an apertured separating device disposed in the path ot pulp transmitted on said Wall, and a flotation body disposed to receive on its surface pulp from said Wall.

4. In an apparatus for separating ores, the combination of a plurality of stages adapted to support pulp and inclined in suclinianner as to cause the pulp to progressivelyv more over said stages'v and ar ranged to discharge the pulp from one stage on to another, apertured separation devices v disposed intermediate adjacent stages,and a flotation body disposed to receive the pulp from one of the lower stages.

5. An apparatus for separating ores coinprismg iu combination, aI series of aperlured separating devices arranged in stepped relationship, in position to be trans-j versed by a stl-earn of pulp successively, means vtor injecting fluid into pulp ,during such niovenient, and a flotation body disposed to receive pulp from said devices.v v

6. ln an apparatus l'or separating ores, a hollow pulp handling ,device including a top or pulp supporting wall, said pulp supportking wall being in stepped contour and a1.'-

ranged to permit the egressiontgf fluid from wit-hin the device into the pulp supported 

